Long ago on independence square (Kansas City: lawyers, homes, school)

[Major Tom 58]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

Today's visual trivia is from 1973. Where was it?

I know, I know...... Now-a-days you can eat Mexican food and buy hardware here.

[Adkinsstan]

The tracks crossed where The Missouri Pacific tracks run along Noland Rd. Still today - 50 yards north of 31st and Noland Rd. They still cross at that spot today, only they've incorporated a tressel. If you go east from that spot down the tracks toward Selsa 1 mile you'll find yourself at the Lees Summit Rd overpass going over the tracks. This is the deep cut where they began slowing the train. The engineer stated when he saw the lantern he thought he was being slowed because of a crossing train ahead, which makes sense it was approx a mile before the intersection, which puts the area where the train would have been stopped on the most critical curve and in the deepest cut, which you can see out the car window looking down off the Lees Summit Rd train overpass.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by Adkinsstan

The tracks crossed where The Missouri Pacific tracks run along Noland Rd. Still today - 50 yards north of 31st and Noland Rd. They still cross at that spot today, only they've incorporated a tressel. If you go east from that spot down the tracks toward Selsa 1 mile you'll find yourself at the Lees Summit Rd overpass going over the tracks. This is the deep cut where they began slowing the train. The engineer stated when he saw the lantern he thought he was being slowed because of a crossing train ahead, which makes sense it was approx a mile before the intersection, which puts the area where the train would have been stopped on the most critical curve and in the deepest cut, which you can see out the car window looking down off the Lees Summit Rd train overpass.

Interesting.

That is probably why the various RR owners retained the name Independence Junction even though there is no junction, but double tracking starts in that area.

I guess you are saying that the cut under Lee's Summit Road is what was called Blue Cut?

Glendale Gardens subdivision is in that area immediately south of the tracks and to the west of the bridge for several blocks. My folks bought there in '63 and the rumor was that Jesse James robbed the Glendale train in that area somewhere but no one knew anything more than that.

In 1961, a reenactment of one of the Glendale (Selsa) train robberies took place at the Selsa RR station with the last run of the then Gulf, Mobile, & Ohio passenger train. But the robbery was staged there for convenience purposes because the terrain allowed for a few hundred people to watch. Everyone seemed aware the Glendale train was robbed elsewhere but no one knew exactly where.

[WCHS'59]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

What seemingly well known individual left Independence in a covered wagon for the west and was never heard from again?



Undoubtedly, this happened many times but in this case the individual was number five in a long line ahead of him.

The man was A.E. Tyree, one of the very early mayors of Independence.

In 1853, A.E. Tyree was the fifth mayor of Independence according to one of the history books. The city was incorporated in 1849 and it appears that mayors were elected annually in those days with no one willing or wanting to make a political career out of an office as they do today.

He left Independence headed to California in 1857 and was never heard from again. I was able to find a photo tintype of him on the internet but then could not find it a second time. It is out there somewhere.

The Kansas City Star apparently ran some information about him on October 10, 1952, on page 9, but I have not been able to access that issue.

A Tyree Family ancestral lineage posted on the internet shows an Abraham “T.” Tyree as mayor of Independence in 1853.

That same site also says Abraham “E.” Tyree was born in 1825 and moved to Jackson County in 1840. They may be the same person. According to this site, A. E. Tyree had a son who later became a doctor in Kansas City. He must have left the son behind as in 1857 Tyree would have been 32 when he left.

Roughly it sounds like he might have gone ahead from his family and maybe died or just disappeared along the way and his family never heard about it. Perhaps that is why no one hearing from him again was of significance to Independence history.

Findagrave for an Abraham Tyree or A.E. Tyree comes up empty for the entire U.S.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by Major Tom 58

I know, I know...... Now-a-days you can eat Mexican food and buy hardware here.

So far you are correct. For those in the dark can you give a more precise location?

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

The man was A.E. Tyree, one of the very early mayors of Independence.

In 1853, A.E. Tyree was the fifth mayor of Independence according to one of the history books. The city was incorporated in 1849 and it appears that mayors were elected annually in those days with no one willing or wanting to make a political career out of an office as they do today.

He left Independence headed to California in 1857 and was never heard from again. I was able to find a photo tintype of him on the internet but then could not find it a second time. It is out there somewhere.

The Kansas City Star apparently ran some information about him on October 10, 1952, on page 9, but I have not been able to access that issue.

A Tyree Family ancestral lineage posted on the internet shows an Abraham “T.” Tyree as mayor of Independence in 1853.

That same site also says Abraham “E.” Tyree was born in 1825 and moved to Jackson County in 1840. They may be the same person. According to this site, A. E. Tyree had a son who later became a doctor in Kansas City. He must have left the son behind as in 1857 Tyree would have been 32 when he left.

Roughly it sounds like he might have gone ahead from his family and maybe died or just disappeared along the way and his family never heard about it. Perhaps that is why no one hearing from him again was of significance to Independence history.

Findagrave for an Abraham Tyree or A.E. Tyree comes up empty for the entire U.S.

I had forgotten what little I knew about Mayor Tyree, which was his mention in Pearl's book. Thanks for the info.

[WCHS'59]

What individual in Independence once obtained possession of the Jackson County courthouse clock on Independence Square and refused to give it back? That is until the City of Independence stepped in and saved the county from itself.

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by WCHS'59

What individual in Independence once obtained possession of the Jackson County courthouse clock on Independence Square and refused to give it back? That is until the City of Independence stepped in and saved the county from itself.

It wasn't me!

[Major Tom 58]

Originally Posted by Mad Anthonie

So far you are correct. For those in the dark can you give a more precise location?

Not sure of the strip malls name, but is located on the southeast corner of 291/M-78 (23rd street)

[Mad Anthonie]

Originally Posted by Major Tom 58

Not sure of the strip malls name, but is located on the southeast corner of 291/M-78 (23rd street)

Congratulations! You are correct and the winner of a virtual nothing!! I think it used to be called 71 Plaza. Nowadays I don't think it has a name.